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Share ThisMay 21, 2008
Wall Street Journal - Democrats Target House Republicans for War Funding Vote
Some of those House Republicans who voted “present” on Iraq war funding may find themselves on the hot seat over the Memorial Day recess, if Democratic strategists have their way.
Last week, the House for the first time ever rejected funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as Republicans held back support as a protest against domestic-spending items Democrats added to the legislation. The war funding failed 149-141, after 132 lawmakers—all Republicans—voted present.
Now strategists at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the political arm of House Democrats, are readying radio ads that will air in battleground districts around the country. The goal of the ads is to hold Republicans accountable for not taking a stand – for or against – on the war.
“Our troops can’t choose whether or not to do their jobs,” the ads say, before noting the targeted Republican “chose not to stand up for our troops and instead did nothing.” The ad concludes: “Tell him to stop turning his back on our troops.”
The ads will air in six competitive districts in Illinois, Ohio, New York, Florida and Arizona, as well as the districts represented by House Minority Leader John Boehner, the Ohio Republican, and Florida Rep. Adam Putnam, the House’s third-ranking Republican. Both voted present.
The DCCC is also planning computer-generated telephone calls to local voters in those districts over the recess.
